16 Jun 2010

Giant statue of Jesus destroyed by act of God

11:31 am on 16 June 2010

A giant statue of Jesus Christ in the mid-west American state of Ohio has been destroyed by lightning.

The 19-metre-high sculpture on a highway outside Cincinnati caught fire and burned to the ground after being struck during a thunderstorm on Monday night.

The frame is all that remains of the wood, polystyrene and fibreglass statue, which had stood outside the non-denominational Solid Rock Church in the town of Monroe since 2004. It showed just the upper body of Jesus, with arms raised.

Though the fire spread to a nearby amphitheatre, which suffered minor damage, the local fire chief says no one was injured.

Insurance companies have described the incident as an act of God.